Latest news with #Udhampur
The Sun
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
World's tallest railway bridge higher than Eiffel Tower opens in India as £200million project hailed as ‘crown jewel'
INDIA has unveiled the world's highest railway bridge - built with 30,000 tonnes of steel and towering 359 metres above the river bed. The Chenab Bridge, linking India to Kashmir, has been hailed as the 'crown jewel of India' amid major tensions over the disputed region controlled by rival neighbours India and Pakistan. 5 5 5 India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened the £200 million bridge in his first visit to Kashmir since the conflict between India and Pakistan in April. The bridge's inauguration comes just a month after a shooting in the resort town of Pahalgam, Indian-controlled Kashmir, which killed 26 people. Waving the national flag over the bridge, Modi said: "Pakistan will never forget… its shameful loss.' He added: 'Today's event is a grand festival of India's unity and firm resolve.' Dubbed by Indian Railways as one of the most challenging tracks in the world, the bridge is seen as a symbol of India's economic strength. Stretching 0.8 miles long, the structure has been built to withstand 165mph winds and high-intensity earthquakes. The idea for the railway was first floated in 1892 by the then ruling Maharaja Hari Singh, who brought in British engineers to survey the rugged terrain. But given its complexity, the plan was ultimately shelved. The 169-mile railway line starts in the garrison town of Udhampur in Jammu and winds its way through Srinagar, the main city in Indian-administered Kashmir. It ends in Baramulla, near the heavily militarised Line of Control that divides the Himalayan region between India and Pakistan. India & Pakistan accuse each other of breaking ceasefire as explosions heard hours after deal The bridge is the focal point of the £3.7bn Udhampur-Katra-Baramulla project - set to connect Jammu and Kashmir with 36 tunnels and 943 bridges. It is expected to slice in half - to around three hours - the time taken to travel from Katra, a town in Kashmir's Hindu-majority Jammu region to Srinagar, Kashmir's main city which has a Muslim majority. Around 16 million people live in Kashmir, split between the Indian-controlled and Pakistani-controlled areas. When India and Pakistan gained independence from British rule in 1947, Indian troops took control of two-thirds of Kashmir, while Pakistan seized the northern third. Since then, the dispute between the two nuclear-armed neighbours has evolved into one of the world's most intense geopolitical rivalries. India accused Pakistan of backing the recent Pahalgam massacre - a claim Islamabad firmly denies. US President Donald Trump said: "The United States stands strong with India against terrorism. "We pray for the souls of those lost, and for the recovery of the injured. "Prime Minister Modi, and the incredible people of India, have our full support and deepest sympathies." In response to the terror attack, India launched "Operation Sindoor", striking nine sites across Pakistan and Pakistani-controlled Kashmir. Pakistan officials said the "unprovoked" strikes killed at least 31 people, including several children, as well as injuring 46 others. The fraught period also saw India and Pakistan cancelling visas for each other's citizens. 5 5
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Business Standard
4 days ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
People of J-K stood against Pakistan's conspiracy: PM Modi in Katra
After unveiling several development projects in Jammu and Kashmir, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the people of the region for standing firmly against what he called "Pakistan's conspiracy". Addressing a public gathering in Katra, the Prime Minister said the people's courage was not just a response to Pakistan, but also to the global mindset of terrorism. Earlier in the day, PM Modi inaugurated the Chenab and Anji Bridges and flagged off two Vande Bharat trains, marking the completion of the Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL). Pahalgam attack targeted tourism, says PM Modi PM Modi said the recent terror attack in Pahalgam was aimed at undermining tourism and harming the livelihoods of the poor. 'We are creating new employment opportunities for our youth, and tourism is one of the key means to achieve this. Unfortunately, our neighbouring country is not only against humanity but also against tourism. It is a nation that actively works against the livelihoods of the poor. The Pahalgam incident was an attack on insaniyat and Kashmiriyat. The incident that occurred in Pahalgam on April 22 is a clear example of this,' he said. Operation Sindoor sends message to Pakistan Referring to the Indian response to terrorism, PM Modi said: 'Today is June 6. The night of May 6 proved to be doomsday for Pakistani terrorists. Whenever Pakistan hears about Operation Sindoor, it will recall its shameful defeat. The Pakistani army and terrorists would have never imagined that India would strike so deep inside their territory.' USBRL project to transform regional connectivity The ₹43,780 crore USBRL project includes 36 tunnels totalling 119 km and 943 bridges. It offers seamless, all-weather rail connectivity between Kashmir and the rest of India and is expected to boost regional mobility and economic prospects. The 272-kilometre railway link was completed in phases: Qazigund–Baramulla (118 km) opened in October 2009 Banihal–Qazigund (18 km) in June 2013 Udhampur–Katra (25 km) in July 2014 Banihal–Sangaldan (48.1 km) in February 2024 Sangaldan–Katra (17 km) completed in December 2024 PM meets engineers at Chenab Bridge site During his visit, PM Modi met engineers and workers at a railway museum near the Chenab Bridge in Reasi district. The bridge is the world's highest railway arch, built over the Chenab River using steel arches. J-K LG hails landmark infrastructure Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha called the day historic: 'What a momentous day! 06 June, 2025 will go down in history. Hon'ble PM Sh Narendra Modi Ji inaugurated Chenab bridge, the world's highest railway arch bridge, and Anji bridge, India's first cable-stayed rail bridge, making the dream of connecting Kashmir to Kanyakumari a reality,' Sinha posted on X. Medical college for Reasi district PM Modi also laid the foundation stone of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence in Katra, a project worth over ₹350 crore. The institute will be the first medical college in Reasi district and is expected to significantly strengthen healthcare infrastructure in the region. (With agency inputs)
Malay Mail
4 days ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Modi opens world's highest railway bridge in Kashmir after deadly India-Pakistan clash
SRINAGAR, June 6 — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Kashmir today, his first visit to the contested Himalayan region since a conflict with arch-rival Pakistan last month, and opened a strategic railway line. Modi is launching a string of projects worth billions of dollars for the divided Muslim-majority territory, the centre of bitter rivalry between India and Pakistan since their independence from British rule in 1947. Nuclear-armed India and Pakistan fought an intense four-day conflict last month, their worst standoff since 1999, before a ceasefire was agreed on May 10. His office broadcast images of Modi at a viewing point for the Chenab Bridge, a 1,315-metre-long (4,314-foot-long) steel and concrete span that connects two mountains with an arch 359 metres above the river below. 'In addition to being an extraordinary feat of architecture, the Chenab Rail Bridge will improve connectivity,' the Hindu nationalist leader said in a social media post ahead of his visit. Modi strode across the bridge waving a giant Indian flag to formally declare it open for rail traffic soon after his arrival. New Delhi calls the Chenab span the 'world's highest railway arch bridge'. While several road and pipeline bridges are higher, Guinness World Records confirmed that Chenab trumps the previous highest railway bridge, the Najiehe in China. The new 272-kilometre (169-mile) Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla railway, with 36 tunnels and 943 bridges, has been constructed 'aiming to transform regional mobility and driving socio-economic integration', Modi's office says. The bridge will facilitate the movement of people and goods, as well as troops, that was previously possible only via treacherous mountain roads and by air. The railway 'ensures all weather connectivity' and will 'boost spiritual tourism and create livelihood opportunities', Modi said. The railway line is expected to halve the travel time between the town of Katra in the Hindu-majority Jammu region and Srinagar, the main city in Muslim-majority Kashmir, to around three hours. More than 70 people were killed in missile, drone and artillery fire during last month's conflict. The fighting was triggered by an April 22 attack on civilians in Indian-administered Kashmir that New Delhi accused Pakistan of backing—a charge Islamabad denies. Rebel groups in Indian-run Kashmir have waged a 35-year-long insurgency demanding independence for the territory or its merger with Pakistan. — AFP
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
India's Modi arrives in Kashmir to open strategic railway
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Kashmir on Friday, his first visit to the contested Himalayan region since a conflict with arch-rival Pakistan last month, and opened a strategic railway line. Modi is launching a string of projects worth billions of dollars for the divided Muslim-majority territory, the centre of bitter rivalry between India and Pakistan since their independence from British rule in 1947. Nuclear-armed India and Pakistan fought an intense four-day conflict last month, their worst standoff since 1999, before a ceasefire was agreed on May 10. His office broadcast images of Modi at a viewing point for the Chenab Bridge, a 1,315-metre-long (4,314-foot-long) steel and concrete span that connects two mountains with an arch 359 metres above the river below. "In addition to being an extraordinary feat of architecture, the Chenab Rail Bridge will improve connectivity," the Hindu nationalist leader said in a social media post ahead of his visit. Modi strode across the bridge waving a giant Indian flag to formally declare it open for rail traffic soon after his arrival. New Delhi calls the Chenab span the "world's highest railway arch bridge". While several road and pipeline bridges are higher, Guinness World Records confirmed that Chenab trumps the previous highest railway bridge, the Najiehe in China. The new 272-kilometre (169-mile) Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla railway, with 36 tunnels and 943 bridges, has been constructed "aiming to transform regional mobility and driving socio-economic integration", Modi's office says. The bridge will facilitate the movement of people and goods, as well as troops, that was previously possible only via treacherous mountain roads and by air. The railway "ensures all weather connectivity" and will "boost spiritual tourism and create livelihood opportunities", Modi said. The railway line is expected to halve the travel time between the town of Katra in the Hindu-majority Jammu region and Srinagar, the main city in Muslim-majority Kashmir, to around three hours. More than 70 people were killed in missile, drone and artillery fire during last month's conflict. The fighting was triggered by an April 22 attack on civilians in Indian-administered Kashmir that New Delhi accused Pakistan of backing -- a charge Islamabad denies. Rebel groups in Indian-run Kashmir have waged a 35-year-long insurgency demanding independence for the territory or its merger with Pakistan. bb/pjm/pbt
Khaleej Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Khaleej Times
India's Modi to visit Kashmir to unveil strategic railway
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to make his first visit to contested Kashmir since a conflict between India and Pakistan last month, inaugurating a strategic railway to the mountainous region, his office said on Wednesday. Modi is set to visit on Friday to open the Chenab Bridge, a 1,315-metre-long steel and concrete span that connects two mountains with an arch 359 metres above the river below. "The project establishes all-weather, seamless rail connectivity between the Kashmir Valley and the rest of the country," the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement. Modi is expected to flag off a special train. The 272-kilometre Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla railway -- with 36 tunnels and 943 bridges — has been constructed "aiming to transform regional mobility and driving socio-economic integration", the statement added. Its dramatic centrepiece is the Chenab Bridge, which India calls the "world's highest railway arch bridge". While several road and pipeline bridges are higher, Guinness World Records confirmed that Chenab trumps the previous highest railway bridge, the Najiehe in China. Indian Railways calls the $24-million bridge "arguably the biggest civil engineering challenge faced by any railway project in India in recent history". The bridge will facilitate the movement of people and goods -- as well as troops -- that was previously possible only via treacherous mountain roads and air. The train line could slash travel time between the town of Katra and Srinagar, the region's key city, by half, taking around three hours. The bridge will also revolutionise logistics in Ladakh, the icy region in India bordering China. India and China, the world's two most populous nations, are intense rivals competing for strategic influence across South Asia. Their troops clashed in 2020, killing at least 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers, and forces from both sides today face off across contested high-altitude borderlands. The railway begins in the garrison city of Udhampur, headquarters of the army's northern command, and runs north to Srinagar.
